Package-dispensing container



March 9 1926.

W. G. SWARTZ PACKAGE DISPENSING. CONTAINER Filed Jan. 17, 1922 Patented Mar. 9 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WILLIAM G. SWARTZ, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PACKAGE-DISPENSING conmmnn.

Application filed January 17, 1922. Serial No. 529,854.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM G. SWARTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphimin the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Dispensing Containers, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved dispensing container for packages which will be of advantage for use in stores; said container being so constructed as to hold numerous packages in stack form and to automatically project the lowermost package, due to the weight of the superposed packages, so that it can be readily grasped and withdrawn by a salesperson. For example, my improved device can be used with great advantage for holding packages of cigarettes and allowing the ready withdrawal of the packages by a salesperson.

Another object is to so construct my improved container that it will protect the packages while held therein; keeping the same from becoming soiled and at the same time the number of packages within the container can be readily seen so that the container can be kept properly filled.

Another object is to make my device of a simple and double construction which can be readily manufactured and will be neat in appearance.

A further object is to make my improved container of comparatively few parts which can be readily shaped to perform their respective functions.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front elevation 'of a con tainer made in accordance with my present invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1,-

Fi ure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating a number of ackages within the container and further lllustrating the lower package projected a suflicient distance to be readily grasped and withdrawn, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional plan view taken on the line 4.4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, my improved container includes a body portion 5 in the form of an upright chute which 1s preferably made of bent sheet metal including a back 6, sides 7 and front flanges 8; said front flanges being bent at angles to the planes of the sides 7 and having folded edge portions 9 spaced apart to provide a central upright opening 10. I have illustrated the opening 10 covered by a strip of transparent glass 11; the side edge portions of the glass being positioned between the folds of the edges 9 as shown in Figure 4. The lower portions of the edges 9 preferably have lips 12 which are bent inward as shown in Figure 3 to provide a rest for the bottom edge of the glass 11. j

The bottom edges of the ",flanges 8 sto short of the bottoms of the sides 7 and bac 6 to provide an open mouth 13. The back 6 at its bottom has two forwardly projecting arms 14 which are horizontal with the exception of the forward end portions 15 which are preferably bent downward at a slight angle as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The back 6 is a split upward from its bottom to provide a central deflecting tongue 16 which is bowed forwardly in the form of a compound or ogee curve; the forward por-. tion of the tongue extending down through the space 17 between the arms 14; said forward ortion of the tongue entering the space 1 forward of the plane of the back 6 as clearly shown in Figure 3. The distance of this entering point of the tongue 16 from the back 6 determines the distance that the lowermost package will be projected such for example as the lowermost package 18 shown in Figure 3. It will be noted that the entire body portion or chute can be made out of a single sheet or blank of metal with the various portions bent into the shapes illustrated and it will be noted that before the parts are bent that the blank can be stamped out so as to provide the material for the arms, tongue, rear, sides and front flange portions.

I preferably sha e the top of the chute 5 at an incline an provide a yoked cover 19 which has a portion 20 adapted to cover the upper open end of the chute; said cover having side flanges which embracethe sides 7 of the chute and are pivotall connected thereto by pivot pins 21 or ot er suitable means. I so arrange the parts that the cover 19 can be swung orward into theFposition shown in dot-and-dash lines in igure 2 so that the part 20 will occupy an approximately horizontal position with its e go 22 abutting the forward portion of the chute. at a position below the pivot connection '21. Thus when the cover is swung into its open position the chute can be replenished with packages and the portion '20 of the cover when in said swung osition will serve as a shelf for temporari y supporting certam of the packages so that a erson can be relieved of the weight of t e packages and can use both hands for the purpose of attending to the proper insertion of the packages within the chute through the open top.

In use it will be noted that the weight of the stackedpackages will cause the rear' thereof said lowermost package will remain supported upon the arms in a position with its front projecting through the mouth 13 in a pos1t1on where it can be conveniently asped and withdrawn. By curvin the arms 14 at their forward portions as s own at 15, during the withdrawal of the lowermost package, a slight downward movement is allowed without possible injury to the package wrapper, after which the next package immediately above will fall and due to its weight and the weight of the superposed packages it in turn will be infinanced by the tongue 16 and will be projected as above stated in connection with the first metnioned lowermost package.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be undergno'r'emo stood that the various parts of my invention may be chan ed without departing from the spirit thereo and hence I'do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come withm the scope of the appended claims.

Having. thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire 'to'secure by Letters Patent is:

-'1.' A container including a body portion having side, back and front members formed from a single strip of sheet metal, the lower end of the front and side members being cut away forming an open mouth, and the lower part of the back member being slit providlng outer strips forming bottom members to support packages and a central strip curved forwardly and upwardly of .said members to slide the lower package forward into said mouth; substantially as described.

2. A container having side, back and front members formed from a single strip of material and having parts of the front and side members cut away to form an open mouth at its lower forward end, the lower portion of said back being slit to form members to support articles and a curved tongue bent upwardly, between said members to move said articles into said mouth, and a cover pivotally connected to said container to close the top thereof, said cover being arranged to swing outwardly from said container and extend therefrom to provide asupporting shelf; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM G. SWARTZ. 

